FOUR years ago MacKinnon was playing in the amateur leagues before being picked up by Clydebank. Now he's looking forward to a crack at the Premiership.

FOUR short years ago Darian MacKinnon was ploughing his way through Posties Park, Dumbarton, for St Patrick’s in the Central Premier League.

He was a 24-year-old labourer on building sites, playing Saturday amateur football in front of no men and no dogs.

On Sunday, the same player was covering every blade of grass at Easter Road, flying into tackles, winning the ball, passing it cleverly and driving Hamilton Accies past Hibs and into the Premiership.

He’s 28 now and in four years has made the journey from public parks to Celtic Park via a stint in the juniors with Clydebank.

Little wonder MacKinnon was pinching himself yesterday as the enormity of it began to sink in.

This is no rags to riches story because playing for Accies doesn’t enhance many bank balances.

But in terms of football, MacKinnon has made the journey from pauper to prince and nobody can blame him for savouring every moment of it.

The midfielder said: “I was playing amateur four years ago for St Pat’s in the Foster’s Central League on a Saturday afternoon.

“I was playing in front of nobody but got picked up by Clydebank and really enjoyed my two years in the juniors. Then I got the chance to sign for Hamilton which was massive for me.

“To be honest, when I was playing at St Pat’s in the amateur league I didn’t think for a minute I would be playing at this level.

“I was enjoying myself with my mates and that was as far as it went. But when I moved to Clydebank and found I could play at that level and do okay, I started to think I had a chance.

Hamilton Accies star Darian MacKinnon with Monday's Daily Record

“I didn’t know what level I could play at but when Hamilton came in I had to grab the chance.

“I was a labourer in my friend’s building firm so I had to give that up. It might sound daft but I had to think about it because it wasn’t as if I was going to Hamilton for life-changing money.

“However, I knew I had to leave my job and go for it. I was 26 by then and if I hadn’t signed for Hamilton I would have regretted it for the rest of my life. I would have always wondered how far I could have gone.

“It was something I just had to do. My partner told me to go for it, so I did and it has turned out brilliantly.

“I’m just delighted that I have managed to do it. To be going to the likes of Celtic Park and Tannadice from where I’ve come from really is the stuff that dreams are made of, and I can’t wait.

“I can hardly put into words how I’m feeling right now.”

MacKinnon admitted that working his way to the top the hard way made Sunday’s triumph over Hibs all the sweeter.

He added: “That kind of move through the ranks doesn’t happen very much in football these days but it is something I have worked hard for and Sunday was the day my dreams came true. It’s as simple as that really.

“It seems crazy that I have gone from the amateurs to playing in the Premiership next season. I’m just buzzing.

“I have never come through a youth academy or anything like that. I’ve come up the hard way but that makes what happened on Sunday all the sweeter.

“I’ve had nothing handed to me, I’ve worked for it and it was great to play so well in front of a packed crowd at an arena like Easter Road. Hibs had the vast majority of the support but it makes you more up for the game.”

He sensed fear from Terry Butcher’s side on Sunday and insisted Hamilton fed off it.

MacKinnon said: “We knew if we scored first we had a real chance. Even in the first game, before they scored the Hibs fans were starting to get on their backs. We spoke about it all week and the message was always the same – get the first goal and their crowd will turn on them.

“Their players started to panic and got nervous on the ball. You could sense it during the game.

“The big worry for us was that the second goal took so long to come. We kept probing and playing, we didn’t lump it long, and we managed to get it at the end.

“It’s the first time in my career that I’ve ever had cramp. My hamstring seized up and one of the Hibs boys gave me a stretch. I was out on my feet and have never been happier to hear a final whistle. I was knackered and I’m just happy I didn’t have to take a penalty.

“I hadn’t missed a spot-kick for years in my amateur days but then I missed one with Clydebank and I’ve never hit a penalty again because it’s always in my head.”

In the aftermath of the game, MacKinnon told a radio reporter that he planned to get “blootered” on Sunday night.

It didn’t quite work out that way but now he’s planning to make up for lost time.

The Accies star said: “All the boys were out on the town after the match but I had to miss it because I had the kids to look after in the morning. The boys weren’t happy with me.

“But I’ll make up for it the rest of this week. I’ve got a garden party planned for Saturday. It was happening regardless of the result but it will be even better now.”